New Music + VR Live Music Tonight!
Giorgia Fumanti, Ginger Leigh, Kittie, Maren Morris, Parker Woodland, Holly Bowling, Wind Monkeys
In This Issue
New Music From Women We Love
TONIGHT: Thea co-hosts a VRLive! music event
ICYMI: Holly Bowling podcast interview
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New Music from Women We Love
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“Close To Your Heart” by Giorgia Fumanti, Québec
single, pop/classical
Giorgia Fumanti’s Italian roots are showing in this single that spotlights her rich vocal talent talent. She has shared the stage with Italian superstars and recorded duets with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti. She’s passionate about movie themes, and I envision this single in an upcoming Romantacy film (if Hollywood would just get on board!).
Ginger Leigh by Ginger Leigh feat. Straight Up, Texas
3-song EP, swingin’ jazz with a Ginger twist
If you live for the nostalgia of orchestral jazz lounges with swing dancers and jokes sprinkled in from a witty chanteuse (think Etta James or Bette Midler), these three tunes from Ginger Leigh are right up your alley. “Don’t Explain” is a single dripping with sultry blue notes that will make you thirst for more. Grab a Gin Rickey and enjoy!
Fire by Kittie, Ontario
album, heavy metal
Substacker Tyler Winters introduced me to the all-female band Kittie and their first album in 13 years. Fire takes me straight to my ‘90s metal years hanging out at The Bayou in Washington DC.
The title track “Fire” is what happens when you tell pissed off women to shut up and smile. Just in time for election season… a coincidence? I think not. 🤘🏻🤘🏻
“cut!” by Maren Morris feat. Julia Michaels, Tennessee by way of Texas
single, pop
Tired of country music’s treatment of women, POC, and LGBTQ+ music makers, GRAMMY-winning Maren Morris has ventured into new waters with this deceptively lighthearted pop single with Julia Michaels. Reminiscent of the Talking Heads play on music and words, there is a dark undercurrent in her message of the truth behind the Instagram reel. This track and another new release “I Hope I Never Fall In Love” will appear on her upcoming EP Intermission coming out in August.
“Makeup” by Parker Woodland, Texas
single, indie rock/pop
Erin Walter is the Fairy God Mother of LGBTQ+ kids everywhere, every age. She fronts the Parker Woodland trio, which knocks it out of the park with this pogo-inducing, thought-provoking rallying cry for the human right to joyously be yourself. Lipstick and all. 🏳️🌈
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TONIGHT: VRLive! Performance
TONIGHT: Who has a VR headset? 🙋🏻♀️ The Wind Monkeys are playing the VRLive! Studio tonight, July 15th at 10:00 pm ET. I’m co-hosting the event and would love to see you there! What makes this special? This isn’t a broadcast — the studio musicians can see and hear you and talk with you IN REAL TIME. It’s the closest you’ll come to feeling like you’re in a live music club experiencing collective effervescence.
How to access the VR room from your Quest/Oculus headset:
Bigscreen app > social icon > public rooms > "Live Music on Maui"
Friends of Bigscreen user "old_school_vr" get early access (about 10 min before public doors open). The room only holds 15 people, so get there early — it fills up fast! Here’s a pic of the Wind Monkeys and a pic of the audience from an earlier show with Maui favorite HOAKA.
ICYMI
A handful of new podcast episodes are in production and will be launching in the next few weeks. A conversation I had with
reminded me of jam band keyboardist Holly Bowling’s interview from way back when the podcast was called Backstage Chats with Women In Music. As substacker observed “Isn’t the connection between symphony and jam band extraordinary?” Yes, Liz, it sure is!Ep 6: Holly Bowling Spins Classical Piano Into Jam Band Gold
In this episode you’ll hear: — The unconventional approach Ghostlight took to recording the album Best Kept Secrets — What it was like playing with two of her musical idols — Late night musical meditations (her best kept musical secret) — The most influential woman in her musical career
You made it to the end! Stay tuned for our next issue. Until then… it’s a wrap!
Totally forgot about Kittie. Someone I was friends with growing up was obsessed with them.